Shell publishes 2016 sustainability report
THE HAGUE -- Royal Dutch Shell has published its sustainability report for 2016, which describes how it is working responsibly to help meet the world’s growing demand for more and cleaner energy.
The sustainability report for 2016 outlines the company’s global approach to sustainability and covers Shell’s environmental, social and safety performance for the year.
The report details Shell’s contributions to emerging energy transitions and its work to address climate change. This includes a growing role for natural gas, carbon capture and storage, and energy-efficiency measures across the company’s operations. Also in 2016, Shell created a New Energies business to continue to explore investment opportunities in areas including biofuels, hydrogen and renewable energy.
In his introduction, Shell’s CEO Ben van Beurden said: “In 2016, the world took significant steps towards building a low-carbon energy future. The United Nations (UN) Paris Agreement and the UN's sustainable development goals came into force, setting new targets for tackling climate change, promoting sustainable economic growth and providing access to modern energy.
“It was also a significant year for Shell. Against a backdrop of low oil prices, we acquired BG, which added to our operations and opportunities in natural gas, the cleanest-burning hydrocarbon, and in deep water.
“As part of a refreshed business strategy, we set long-term environmental and social ambitions: to reduce our carbon intensity and to deliver shared value for society. This includes creating jobs and investing in communities. But it also means providing more and cleaner energy solutions. Our business strategy includes creating a world-class investment case for shareholders and strengthening our leadership in the oil and gas industry, while positioning the company for growth as the world transitions to a low-carbon energy system.
“Our company must continue its efforts to ensure safety wherever we work. We must encourage staff and contractors to be alert to their own safety, to care about the safety of their colleagues, and to look out for any potential safety risks in all our operations, however small.”
The report is reviewed by an external committee, consisting of six experts from a range of professional backgrounds. It is the 20th edition of the Shell Sustainability Report, which is available on Shell's website.
